MPhil/PhD Creative Writing

MPhil/PhD Creative Writing

The Course

The School of English and Journalism offers advanced research opportunities within the subject of Creative Writing.

As an MPhil/PhD student you will be supervised by published writers and be given the opportunity to develop skills so that you may produce work of a publishable standard and engage in creative practice at doctoral level.

Regular research seminars and postgraduate study groups aim to provide a stimulating environment in which to discuss and debate work being undertaken in the School and Creative Writing has strong links to English and Journalism as well as with the Schools of Film and Media, History and Heritage and Fine and Performing Arts.

The Course

The School of English and Journalism offers advanced research opportunities within the subject of Creative Writing. This programme aims to provide training for a career in writing, from fiction to screen and radio adaptation.

As an MPhil/PhD student you have the opportunity to be supervised by published writers and to undertake research in areas including poetry, experimental fiction, the short story, the historical novel, television drama, film scriptwriting and realism.

Regular research seminars and postgraduate study groups are designed to provide a stimulating environment in which to discuss and debate work. Creative Writing has strong links to English and Journalism, as well as with the Schools of Film and Media, History and Heritage, and Fine and Performing Arts.

Members of staff involved in teaching Creative Writing have experience of teaching the subject at undergraduate and postgraduate levels – there are around one hundred students practicing Creative Writing at BA, MA and PhD levels currently in what is a thriving area of the School of English and Journalism.

Topics of interest to them are:

Poetry

Experimental fiction

The short story

The historical Novel

Television drama

Adaptation

Film scripting

Realism

The publishing industry

Staff have published in a variety of these areas and have also worked in the publishing industry.

Study at MPhil/PhD level takes the form of supervised individual research. You are expected to work on the writing practice of your choice for the duration of the study period. On a regular basis, you will be expected to produce appropriate written work, submit it to your supervisors, then meet with your supervisors to receive feedback on your submission and agree the next stage of work.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the vast majority of your time will be spent in independent study and research. You will have meetings with your academic supervisor, however the regularity of these will vary depending on your own individual requirements, subject area, staff availability and the stage of your programme.

The assessment at this level of study takes the form of an 80,000 word thesis.

The Creative Writing dissertation will comprise 60,000 words of creative writing plus a 20,000 word analysis of the creative piece(s).

A PhD is awarded based on the quality of your thesis and your ability in an oral examination (viva voce) to present and successfully defend your chosen research topic to a group of academics. You are also expected to demonstrate how your research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.

To support your experience within the postgraduate research community, new students are encouraged to enrol in October, February or May.

In addition to meeting peers across the University who are starting their research programme at the same time, there is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey. Alternative enrolment dates may be agreed with your supervisor on an individual basis.

** Estimated RCUK fee for 2019/20. The University of Lincoln sets its fees in line with the Research Councils UK (RCUK) research fee support level. For home students commencing in 2019 this will be set early in the New Year. The indicative fee level from RCUK for 2018/19 is £4,260. For 2019 this fee is expected to increase in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator.

*** UoL Alumni students only enrolling on to a Postgraduate Research programme. 20% Offset against the tuition fee payable for each year of study

Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by the research proposal submitted and will be calculated on an individual basis. Any additional fees will be outlined in your offer letter, prior to accepting your place at the University of Lincoln.

Guidance for Postgraduate Fees

Postgraduate Research

Full time and part time postgraduate research students will be invoiced the published set fee each academic year enrolled, up to the point of thesis submission.

Upon first enrolment, the full set fee is payable.

All continuing students are required to re-enrol on their anniversary of their first enrolment. The relevant set full time or part time fee is payable by all continuing students on re-enrolment.

A reduced ‘writing-up’ fee in the 12 month period prior to thesis submission may be applicable subject to your progress. After your Viva Voce examination, additional fees will be payable if a second Viva Voce examination is required.

For further information and for details about funding your study, scholarships and bursaries, please see our Postgraduate Fees & Funding pages [www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studyatlincoln/postgraduateprogrammes/feesandfunding/].

You will need to submit a research proposal and a 3,000-5,000 word sample of creative writing along with your application form. The research proposal will allow us to judge the quality of the application and to decide whether we are able to supervise your project. Please take note of the following guidance:

A research proposal will only be considered if there are academics in the subject with an interest in your field. Please study the staff profiles closely to make sure there is at least one member of staff whose interests intersect broadly with your own. For more information on the School's research, please following the following link: http://lncn.eu/uy34

The research proposal should be 1,000–2,000 words in length.

Clearly define the topic you are interested in and demonstrate understanding of your research area.

Include two or three research questions that you will explore in your research.

Outline the range of research methodologies you will use to undertake the research.

Include a provisional bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

You might include a brief literature review of the key works that relate to your topic, particularly if this helps to exemplify the point below.

Explain clearly how your research contributes to existing scholarship in the area; what gaps will it fill? How will it further knowledge of the area?

Sketch out a provisional plan of work that includes research/archival visits and a timetable for the writing of chapters.

Make sure the proposal is well presented with sections and subheadings and is free of errors.

Members of staff involved in teaching Creative Writing have experience of teaching the subject at undergraduate and postgraduate levels – there are around one hundred students practicing Creative Writing at BA, MA and PhD levels currently in what is a thriving area of the School of English and Journalism.

Topics of interest to them are:

Poetry

Experimental fiction

The short story

The historical Novel

Television drama

Adaptation

Film scripting

Realism

The publishing industry

Staff have published in a variety of these areas and have also worked in the publishing industry.

Study at MPhil/PhD level takes the form of supervised individual research. You are expected to work on the writing practice of your choice for the duration of the study period. On a regular basis, you will be expected to produce appropriate written work, submit it to your supervisors, then meet with your supervisors to receive feedback on your submission and agree the next stage of work.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the vast majority of your time will be spent in independent study and research. You will have meetings with your academic supervisor, however the regularity of these will vary depending on your own individual requirements, subject area, staff availability and the stage of your programme.

The assessment at this level of study takes the form of an 80,000 word thesis.

The Creative Writing dissertation will comprise 60,000 words of creative writing plus a 20,000 word analysis of the creative piece(s).

A PhD is awarded based on the quality of your thesis and your ability in an oral examination (viva voce) to present and successfully defend your chosen research topic to a group of academics. You are also expected to demonstrate how your research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.

To support your experience within the postgraduate research community, new students are encouraged to enrol in October, February or May.

In addition to meeting peers across the University who are starting their research programme at the same time, there is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey. Alternative enrolment dates may be agreed with your supervisor on an individual basis.

** Estimated RCUK fee for 2019/20. The University of Lincoln sets its fees in line with the Research Councils UK (RCUK) research fee support level. For home students commencing in 2019 this will be set early in the New Year. The indicative fee level from RCUK for 2018/19 is £4,260. For 2019 this fee is expected to increase in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator.

*** UoL Alumni students only enrolling on to a Postgraduate Research programme. 20% Offset against the tuition fee payable for each year of study

Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by the research proposal submitted and will be calculated on an individual basis. Any additional fees will be outlined in your offer letter, prior to accepting your place at the University of Lincoln.

Guidance for Postgraduate Fees

Postgraduate Research

Full time and part time postgraduate research students will be invoiced the published set fee each academic year enrolled, up to the point of thesis submission.

Upon first enrolment, the full set fee is payable.

All continuing students are required to re-enrol on their anniversary of their first enrolment. The relevant set full time or part time fee is payable by all continuing students on re-enrolment.

A reduced ‘writing-up’ fee in the 12 month period prior to thesis submission may be applicable subject to your progress. After your Viva Voce examination, additional fees will be payable if a second Viva Voce examination is required.

For further information and for details about funding your study, scholarships and bursaries, please see our Postgraduate Fees & Funding pages [www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studyatlincoln/postgraduateprogrammes/feesandfunding/].

You will need to submit a research proposal and a 3,000-5,000 word sample of creative writing along with your application form. The research proposal will allow us to judge the quality of the application and to decide whether we are able to supervise your project.

A research proposal will only be considered if there are academics in the subject with an interest in your field. Please study the staff profiles closely to make sure there is at least one member of staff whose interests intersect broadly with your own. For more information on the School's research, please following the following link: http://lncn.eu/uy34

The research proposal should be 1,000–2,000 words in length.

Clearly define the topic you are interested in and demonstrate understanding of your research area.

Include two or three research questions that you will explore in your research.

Outline the range of research methodologies you will use to undertake the research.

Include a provisional bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

You might include a brief literature review of the key works that relate to your topic, particularly if this helps to exemplify the point below.

Explain clearly how your research contributes to existing scholarship in the area; what gaps will it fill? How will it further knowledge of the area?

Sketch out a provisional plan of work that includes research/archival visits and a timetable for the writing of chapters.

Make sure the proposal is well presented with sections and subheadings and is free of errors.

Quick Links

Throughout this degree, students may receive tuition from professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, researchers, practitioners, visiting experts or technicians, and they may also be supported in their learning by other students.

Career and Personal Development

A doctoral qualification may be regarded as the capstone of academic achievement and may mark the beginning of a career in academia or research.

Career and Personal Development

A doctoral qualification may be regarded as the capstone of academic achievement and may mark the beginning of a career in academia or research.

Facilities

At Lincoln, we constantly invest in our campus as we aim to provide the best learning environment for our students. Whatever the area of study, the University strives to ensure students have access to specialist equipment and resources, to develop the skills, which they may need in their future career.

Students can study and research in the University's Great Central Warehouse Library, which provides more than 250,000 printed books and approximately 400,000 electronic books and journals, as well as databases and specialist collections. The Library has a range of different spaces for shared and individual learning.

The Media, Humanities and Technology (MHT) building is equipped with industry standard media suites providing specialist broadcast television, radio and sound equipment. The building is also home to television studios, photography studios and radio editing suites. Siren FM, our on-campus community radio station, is also based here.